Raymond Gary "Red" Hootman

Raymond Gary “Red” Hootman, 87, of Conesville passed away Saturday, December 31, 2022 in Conesville at his home surrounded by his family.  He was born in Plainfield, Ohio on July 3, 1935 to the late Anna (Roberts) Hootman and Raymond C. Hootman.

Red was a hard worker for his entire life.  He began working at a young age for Cox’s Potato Farm in Adams Mills.  He rode his bike to work and received 5 cents for each bushel of potatoes he picked.  After graduating from Conesville High School in 1953, he went to work as a truck driver for A.E. Kohman and Sons where he delivered coal to schools.  He then drove for Donny Bradford as well as Ward E. Lanning before being hired as a driver for Clow Water Systems Company. Red had more than 1.8 million miles of accident-free driving, and was the Driver of the Year in 1974!  His Clow years had him running teams to California with Donny Randles, Denver Lowe, Roby Hicks and Kenny Wolford.  After Clow outsourced their trucking, Red went into the plant to load trucks with “Big Red.”  He drove for Beutenmiller Trucking after Clow before finishing his truck driving career at 75 years of age driving for Neville Wright, where he hauled sludge from AEP.

Before Google Maps, there was “call Red Hootman.”  He could give you directions from memory to anywhere you wanted to go.  His truck driving career took him to all 48 continental United States.  His handy atlas was always within reach of his kitchen chair.

Gary served in the United States Army during the Cold War from 1958-1960 in Gelnhausen, Germany where he defended the Fulda Gap.  He was with the 3rd Armored Division, 33rd Regiment, B-Company – Spearhead.  His red hair was noticed immediately, and from then on he became the Colonel’s driver traveling all over Germany & the Netherlands.

Red could remember every person he met, every vehicle he owned, and every truck stop where he ate.  He never met a stranger.  In his 80’s he became a Facebook user where he kept track of what his children and his grandchildren were doing.

Red is survived by his wife of 61 years, Kathleen (Green) Hootman; daughters Debi (Tim) Hootman-NG, Janet (Chuck) Michael, and Jody (Eric) Wright; grandchildren Michelle NG, Scott Hootman- NG, Ryan (Heather) Michael, Kimberly (Tyler) Schroeder, Erika Michael, Jared Michael, Payton (Derek) Robertson, Adyson Wright, and Caleb Wright; and great grandchildren Tate and Bodey Michael.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Roscoe United Methodist Church, 475 High Street, Coshocton, OH 43812 on Friday January 6, 2023 from 1:00pm – 3:00pm with a funeral service beginning at 3:00pm with Pastor Robert Mitchell officiating.   The Miller Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting the family.

Memorial contributions can be directed towards the Coshocton County Animal Shelter, 21755 TR 164 Coshocton, Ohio 43812.